Title: The Flame Burns Brighter

Author: ncismom

Disclaimer: No matter how hard I wish, NCIS still does not belong to me

Spoilers: A WHN for the episode Rekindled

Summary: The unexpected reunion with Jason King brings up another memory that Tony had long thought buried. Can Gibbs help him face the past before he loses himself in the flames? This is a short birthday fic for AZGirl.

It had been a long time since Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo had felt so…He tried to search for a word to describe how he was feeling at the moment, but there didn't seem to be any adjective that could adequately describe the myriad of emotions that were coursing through him. The reappearance of Jason King in his life had caused an upheaval of memories that he had buried many years ago. Why couldn't the past simply stay in the past?

As he rode the elevator back up, Tony dreaded facing McGee and Ziva; there would be more questions and truthfully, he wasn't ready to answer them. The agent realized that his earlier revelation had garnered a bit more respect from his two colleagues, but in the grand scheme of things, that really didn't matter to him anymore; he was too busy trying to cram those unwanted memories back in the box that they had escaped from. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done.

It seemed the night that he had chosen to save Jason was merely the first time where he would have to make a life or death decision that would shape him into the man that he was today. He seemed destined to make these choices and every time he was forced to do so, he would spend days, even weeks, berating himself, wondering what he could have done differently. He always arrived at the same conclusion and that was that he wouldn't have done anything different; if only his heart would listen to his head.

He forced his thoughts back to the present as the elevator doors opened. It was time to slip his mask back on so he could focus on the case; Tony had a feeling that they had barely scratched the surface in their investigation. Before he could step out onto the floor, his path was blocked by Gibbs, who without uttering a word, ordered him back into the elevator and handed him his back pack.

"Something wrong, Boss?" Tony asked, uncertain as to the team leader's purpose.

"Time to go home."

"Home? I thought…"

"Need a little time to think."

"Oh. Well, I guess I could use a shower or something."

"Yep," Gibbs agreed. "I think I'm gonna go home and put on a couple of steaks."

Tony tiredly grinned at the hidden invite. He truly appreciated the fact that Gibbs always seemed to know what he needed and right now, he needed time to regroup and get his head out of the past and back in the game. "Cowboy style?"

"What other way is there?"

He decided that the shower could wait; his stomach suddenly reminding him that it had been a while since he had eaten. The elevator stopped at the parking garage and the two men exited and began to make their way to their respective cars. "I'll bring the beer."

"Make sure it's the good stuff," Gibbs instructed.

"You got it, Boss."

Tony pulled out his car keys and unlocked his door. Slinging his backpack into the passenger seat, he paused for a moment before getting behind the wheel. "Hey, Gibbs?" he called out.

Gibbs stopped and turned at the sound of his name. "What?"

Tony realized that he wasn't exactly sure what he wanted to say, but somehow, Gibbs still understood him. They both possessed the ability to say a lot without uttering a word; their often silent form of communication often frustrated his colleagues, but there was a profound level of trust between the two men that had developed over the years and Tony truly cherished that bond. "I uh…I'll be right behind you; I just have to stop for the beer."

"Don't be late, DiNozzo."

"Right."

The senior field agent got in his car, started the engine, and pulled out into the garage. He patiently made his way through the parking garage and onto the street. Driving through the streets of D.C., Tony replayed the past few days in his mind, his thoughts still lingering on Jason King and the memories that had been stirred up as a result of his presence. Although that event had changed the direction his life had taken, it was another choice that he had made that had reaffirmed his decision to become a cop.

***flashback***

Rookie Officer Tony DiNozzo had been sitting in the exact same spot for over three hours. He had answered so many questions that he couldn't even remember what he had said to the investigators; his mind was numb and he simply didn't want to think any longer. How had everything gone to hell so quickly? His partner was dead because he had been forced to make a choice—a choice that he had never wanted to make again.

As he continued to stare at the blanket that now covered his training officer, Tony began to replay the events of the night. Could he have done anything differently? He was following orders, but those orders had cost his partner his life and now, he was questioning whether he had made the right decision in becoming a cop. Tony had wanted to make a difference, but at the moment, he felt like a failure.

The medical examiner instructed for Sergeant Mark Gage's body to be taken to autopsy. Wanting to accompany his friend's body, Tony slowly stood to his feet. As he took a tentative step, he stumbled and caught himself, realizing that his side was on fire. He looked down at the crimson spot spreading on his shirt. He didn't remember being shot, but apparently he had been, and now, he was the one in trouble. Tony tried to form the words to call out for help, but he couldn't form the words.

The world began to spin as the darkness began to close in on him. Falling to the ground, he only hoped that if he died as well, that Mark's family could find it in their hearts to forgive him…

TBC….

Happy Birthday, AZGirl. Hope you enjoyed the first post.

To all my other readers, don't worry-this is just a two chapter story for my dear friend AZGirl! I do hope you all are enjoying it as well!